Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 17:50 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 17:50
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Dipankar6435
Joined: 27 Jan 2013
Last visit: 21 Dec 2017
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
125
 [12]
Given Kudos: 38
Status:Breaking my head!!
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GPA: 3.51
WE:Other (Transportation)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 58
Kudos: 125
 [12]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,419
 [5]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,419
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
elegantm
Joined: 28 May 2017
Last visit: 11 Sep 2018
Posts: 223
Own Kudos:
745
 [3]
Given Kudos: 12
Concentration: Finance, General Management
Posts: 223
Kudos: 745
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
NeverEverGiveUp11
Joined: 11 Jul 2018
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 69
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 267
Location: India
GMAT 1: 640 Q48 V30
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38
Products:
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38
Posts: 69
Kudos: 34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mahendru1992
Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.


A. Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

B. The original text of the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1787, specifies any U.S. president or senator who must be an American citizen, although the Constitution did not actually define citizenship until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

C. In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

D. When the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787, its original text specified that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but that citizenship itself would not be defined until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

E. Although the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandates that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen, citizenship itself was not actually defined in the Constitution until July 28, 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified.


VeritasKarishma GMATNinja hazelnut generis

Can anyone please help me with this?

My reasons to reject D:
1. "but that citizenship itself " --> The "that" word in D tries to force parallel to " its original text specified that" and thus give illogical meaning that "its original text specified that citizenship itself would ..."
2. "the ratification of" this is less preferred than action verb form "Ratified"

Kindly correct if I am wrong.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
77,001
 [1]
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 77,001
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\sqrt{}
Suryakumar
mahendru1992
Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.


A. Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

B. The original text of the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1787, specifies any U.S. president or senator who must be an American citizen, although the Constitution did not actually define citizenship until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

C. In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

D. When the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787, its original text specified that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but that citizenship itself would not be defined until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

E. Although the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandates that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen, citizenship itself was not actually defined in the Constitution until July 28, 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified.


VeritasKarishma GMATNinja hazelnut generis

Can anyone please help me with this?

My reasons to reject D:
1. "but that citizenship itself " --> The "that" word in D tries to force parallel to " its original text specified that" and thus give illogical meaning that "its original text specified that citizenship itself would ..."
2. "the ratification of" this is less preferred than action verb form "Ratified"

Kindly correct if I am wrong.

Yes, I would reject it for your point 1.
User avatar
gmatlover1010
User avatar
Forum Quiz PM
Joined: 02 Oct 2020
Last visit: 02 Jun 2024
Posts: 54
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 80
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V34
GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V34
Posts: 54
Kudos: 48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I know this post is a little old and I did a rough search on the forum but didn't find anything specific. Can someone explain to me which is the right form of usage?

1) In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

2) Or is it However, an actual definition did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

Is it always the former when used after the semicolon and the latter when used otherwise. (Only in reference to the use of 'However' for contrast)

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma generis

Alternatively, can you suggest some link I could read up about this?
User avatar
kntombat
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 28 Feb 2020
Last visit: 19 Jan 2023
Posts: 900
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 839
Location: India
WE:Other (Other)
Posts: 900
Kudos: 519
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MartyTargetTestPrep, I would love to hear your take on this question.

I was going to select option E but rejected it because I thought the option had a comma splice.
User avatar
MartyTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Last visit: 11 Aug 2023
Posts: 3,476
Own Kudos:
5,580
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,430
Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 3,476
Kudos: 5,580
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kntombat
MartyTargetTestPrep, I would love to hear your take on this question.

I was going to select option E but rejected it because I thought the option had a comma splice.
A. Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

Three conjunctions for three clauses. Only two conjunctions are needed. Gone.

B. The original text of the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1787, specifies any U.S. president or senator who must be an American citizen, although the Constitution did not actually define citizenship until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

Insane meaning. How would a document specify people who must be citizens? For instance, would the U.S. Constitution consider the current members of the Senate and decide who must be citizens? Almost certainly not the correct answer.

C. In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

"That was adopted ..." attempts to restrict the constitution. That restriction does not appear to make sense since, presumably, there is only one U.S. Constitution. Not an ideal decision point, but probably not correct.

Definition of what?

Also, placing "however" mid clause does not make sense in this case. The flow of ideas does not make sense. "However" should be at the beginning of the clause.


D. When the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787, its original text specified that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but that citizenship itself would not be defined until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.

The meaning "when the ... Constitution was adopted ... it's original text specified" does not make sense. So, at some other point in time, the original text did something else? The original text would do one thing only, not different things at different times.

"That citizenship" is a little off, since no particular citizenship is mentioned.


E. Although the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandates that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen, citizenship itself was not actually defined in the Constitution until July 28, 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified.

Perfect.

Two conjunctions, "although" and "when" for three clauses.

Says what was defined.

No crazy meaning conveyed.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
77,001
 [1]
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 77,001
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmatlover1010
I know this post is a little old and I did a rough search on the forum but didn't find anything specific. Can someone explain to me which is the right form of usage?

1) In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

2) Or is it However, an actual definition did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.

Is it always the former when used after the semicolon and the latter when used otherwise. (Only in reference to the use of 'However' for contrast)

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma generis

Alternatively, can you suggest some link I could read up about this?

There is no such requirement. You can place "however" as an aside in between thoughts "an actual definition, however, did not exist..." or you can start by giving the contrast "however, an actual definition did not ..."
Both are correct.
A semi colon combines two clauses. It does not change word placements within the clauses.

Also, take a look here: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2015/0 ... questions/
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,304
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6,180
GPA: 3.62
Products:
Posts: 17,304
Kudos: 49,313
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Official Explanation

This sentence presents two facts. First, the original text of the Constitution refers to the idea of citizenship; second, the word citizenship was not actually defined in the Constitution until quite a while later. Together, these statements present irony, as the original Constitution refers to a concept that is not actually defined in it; therefore, the sentence should use a transition that appropriately expresses the contrast between the actual situation and what might have been expected.

(A) The verb mandated is a "bossy" verb and must be followed by the subjunctive be; must be is incorrect. In addition, this choice redundantly uses even though and but; both signal the same contrast.

(B) The wording the Constitution specifies any U.S. president or senator who must be an American citizen illogically implies that the original Constitution actually names specific presidents and senators. Instead, the sentence should use the word that: the Constitution specifies that (a certain thing should happen).

(C) The verb specify should not be followed by the subjunctive mood (be); rather, the sentence would need to say something like it is specified (or it specifies) that any U.S. president or senator must be (something). In the last clause, the phrase an actual definition is vague; it is not entirely clear that this refers to the definition of citizenship. (We only know this because we have already read the original sentence!)

(D) The combination of the past tense (specified) and the modifier when illogically implies that the original text of the Constitution now says something else, in the present. (It is possible to amend an original text, but the original text is still the original text; the changed text is the amended text.) This choice also creates the parallel structure specified that X but that Y. While this is structurally correct, it doesn't make sense: it implies that the Constitution of 1787 indicated that a definition of citizenship would be provided 79 years in the future, on July 28, 1868.

(E) CORRECT. Mandates appears properly in the present tense, as the original text of the Constitution still exists (and still says the same things), and is correctly followed by the command subjunctive (since mandates is a bossy verb). The word although properly indicates the contrast between the two clauses. Finally, the past tense (was not defined, was ratified) is used correctly to describe past actions.

Answer: E
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,830
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,830
Kudos: 986
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts